The US economy leads in per-capita wealth and technological innovation with a $28.7 trillion GDP, while China's economy is the second-largest at $17.9 trillion but serves 1.4 billion people with lower per-capita income of $12,720 versus America's $85,140. The US maintains advantages in currency strength, capital markets, and R&D spending, while China leads in manufacturing output and foreign direct investment attraction.
US Economy vs China Economy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
The US economy excels in per-capita wealth, worker productivity, and high-value sectors like technology and finance, making it stronger for individual prosperity and innovation-driven growth. China's economy dominates in absolute manufacturing capacity and scale, positioning it for continued growth in output volume but facing challenges in per-capita living standards and capital efficiency. Choose the US economy if prioritizing individual wealth creation and innovation leadership; choose China if measuring absolute production capacity and emerging market growth potential.
Compare United States Economy vs China Economy
World's largest economy by nominal GDP with dominance in technology, finance, and services sectors.
World's second-largest economy by nominal GDP, dominant in manufacturing and global trade with rapid growth.
Labor Force Productivity (GDP per worker)
US Economy vs China Economy — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for US Economy vs China Economy with 298 attributes.
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Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2024)
Tech Sector Market Capitalization (Top 7 Companies)
Average Annual GDP Growth Rate (2010-2023)
Annual GDP Growth Rate (2020-2026 Average)
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (Annual)
US Economy vs China Economy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for US Economy vs China Economy.
Which economy is actually larger, US or China?
By nominal GDP, the US economy is larger at $28.7 trillion versus China's $17.9 trillion (2025 estimates). However, by purchasing power parity (PPP), which adjusts for cost of living, China's economy is slightly larger at $35.2 trillion versus the US at $31.4 trillion. Most economists use nominal GDP for international comparisons, making the US larger in standard economic rankings.
Why is China's GDP per capita so much lower if it's the world's second-largest economy?
China's per-capita GDP is $12,720 versus the US at $85,140 because China's $17.9 trillion economy is distributed across 1.4 billion people, while the US $28.7 trillion is distributed across 340 million people. China has roughly 4.1x more people sharing a similar total economic output, resulting in significantly lower individual wealth and income.
Which economy has better growth prospects?
China's growth rate of 5.2% annually (2020-2025) exceeds the US rate of 2.1%, but China faces structural headwinds: aging population, real estate debt, and diminishing returns on manufacturing. The US has lower growth but more sustainable sources: technological innovation, higher productivity, and stronger demographic trends with net immigration.
Why does China hold so many foreign exchange reserves compared to the US?
China holds $2.18 trillion in forex reserves primarily from decades of trade surpluses in manufacturing exports, while the US holds $130 billion because it doesn't need large reserves—the US Dollar itself is the world's reserve currency. Most countries hold dollars; the US doesn't need to hold its own currency.
Which economy is more resilient to economic shocks?
The US economy is more resilient due to: diverse economic sectors beyond manufacturing, deep capital markets allowing rapid refinancing, currency strength providing borrowing advantages, and higher per-capita wealth for consumer spending stability. China's economy is more vulnerable to commodity price shocks, real estate sector disruptions, and trade disruptions due to manufacturing concentration.